Delphy and Leonard - Family and Marriage - Family (Feminist)

Question 1

What do Delphy and Leonard argue?

Answer 1

• That the family is patriarchal.
• Family relationships involve economic exploitation.
  Men benefit from the unpaid work of women within families.
  Wives are exploited in terms of the way their labour is used by their husbands; their work not being valued; and their financial dependence on their husbands.
• The family is based on a hierarchy - with the husband at the top and other family members in subordinate positions.
  The husband provides for his wife’s upkeep and gets to control her labour for his own use. Even when women have well-paid, full-time employment, they still do most of the domestic work and childcare.
• Families maintain men’s dominance over women and children. In this way, the patriarchal family maintains the patriarchal nature of society.

Question 2

What are some criticisms of Delphy and Leonard?

Answer 2

• Delphy and Leonard do not consider egalitarian families that share power between their members.
• Marxist approaches link inequalities within families to capitalism rather than to patriarchy.
• Functionalists see the family as meeting the needs of individuals and society.